I am looking for HELP! I have a 2011 E150 ,188000km was running great the last time I drove it. I dropped the key in a driveway snow bank, when exiting the van, Nov. 2019. I was not able to find the key , in the snow, until the spring time. The key was broken after a winter season of snowblower and shovel abuse. It was the only key I had. The van was stuck in park. Ford dealer said they could replace the key but I would have to bring the van to them. No key so I couldn't drive it there and because it was in park it couldn't be towed. They printed out a key code and gave me a blank key. $50 They sent us to a Chev dealer to get it coded but they couldn't do it for us. We had another Ford dealer send us new 'coded keys' $145!!! They didn't work and the service guy just said sorry. Because of all the Covid restrictions the van has been in the driveway waiting for help. It has now been almost 2 years waiting. We purchased a new set of keys and ignition from Napa and after a lot of struggling I finally got it installed and was able to get it out of park. It is now in neutral and can be towed. The problem now is the anti theft light is on and the van won't turn on. (Yes, I am the owner with proper ownership papers) We have tried a few other ways to bypass the anti theft and trick the computer but no luck. We can't find anyone to come to the driveway and fix or even find the problem. Our local Ford dealer is now closed and the nearest service is 2 hours away . I am hoping someone here has some useful advice. Thank you

 

The reason the anti theft light is on is because the napa key was turned to start but since it is not programmed to the vehicle it is not recognized and the vehicle is letting you know as far as it knows someone tried to steal it from you. While it may be possible to bypass the anti theft system I have no idea how one would do so and I imagine the time and money to do so would be more then to tow it to the dealer 2 hours away. You could see if you can pay a mobile locksmith who has the Ford OBD2 program with access to key programming to come out. I have no idea how much they cost though. There is no way for someone to program the keys and send them to you, the dealer can get the code and cut them to match the cylinder that was installed at the factory but the programming is done to the vehicle not to the keys. I am unsure of what you replaced with the ignition from napa, I am assuming just the lock cylinder to match the keys from napa.

 

A word to the wise,
If you own a vehicle with an anti-theft system and it uses a coded key,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Make sure you have 2 working keys. That way you can code any new keys you get, up to 8 keys.
There are 2 choices,
either you get to a capable locksmith, or a Ford dealership that will have access to the security info to code keys or program the vehicle's computer.
THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. FUEL PUMP WILL NOT RUN AND INJECTORS WILL NOT WORK ,STARTER ALSO COULD BE DISABLED.
IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE WORKING KEY get another ASAP or it can get very expensive, and inconvenient !

 

I hope you read this or the towing co. knows they must rear tow your vehicle. If towed with the rear wheels on the ground and in neutral with the engine NOT RUNNING, the trans can be damaged. There is no lubrication inside the trans without the engine running.

 

Thank you got all the above answers. Very helpful information.